Saturday, October 10, 2009

The new Toy Story 3 trailer is now officially on line and of course the image quality is perfect, not like the one that were released on Youtube or Dailymotion.

I presume you can't wait to see it in HD, so enough talk, here it is!

Disney also released a series of Toy Story 3 posters with Woody (above) and Jessie, Buzz, Rex, Hamm and Mr Potato Head that you will find below. Don't miss the new one of Slinky Dog! And don't forget to let us know what you think of this Toy Story 3 trailer!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Disney Parks released an amazing Magic Kingdom Tilt-Shift video. All the beauty of it is coming from the "miniature" effect. Everything and everybody on the video are real but it looks like a model that would have been animated in "stop-motion", the famous 1960's special effects technique. For those of you who wouldn't be familiar with the SFX technique, in stop-motion the object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence.

In fact, this great video was created from a series of photos snapped inside the Magic Kingdom Park by David Roark, manager of creative photography for Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group. And if you want to discover how he did this incredible "miniature" effect i suggest you read his interview on the Disney Parks blog.

Editor's Note: Remember the article i've posted some days ago for WDW 38th anniversary with the Oct 15, 1971 LIFE cover? Well, i've discovered that you can read the full 1971 LIFE article on Google Books, and it's HERE.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Here is a grand tribute to Epcot beloved extinct attraction and one of my favorite: Horizons. And this one is going to be a really big tribute with lot of pictures, plenty of artwork, and a great video of the whole ride at the end of the article including the links to the previous Epcot original attractions artwork articles.

Horizons, designed by imagineer George Mc Ginnis and Collin Campbell opened on October 1, 1983 and was about the future!...and more specifically, Horizons was dedicated to "humanity's future" with this principle "If we can dream it, we can do it!".
Not only the building was huge, but the 14.45 minutes ride was one of the longest one ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering. Lot of audio-animatronics - 54, exactly , and 770 props all along the ride, not to mention the 12 film projectors, the two Omnisphere screenshow, and a huge capacity of 2784 guests per hour.Everything was great: the story line, the theming, the music, everything!

During 10 years - from 1983 to 1993 - the attraction sponsor was General Electric, as we can see on this picture of the entrance.

Right after the entrance, the Futureport announced the "destinations"

It's time to board in one of the Horizons vehicles

First, we had a look back to some of the great visionaries like Jules Verne, then to how the future was dreamed in the 30's.
Here is a picture of the model of that scene.

And here are pictures of the real thing.

The next scene was a vision of the future from the 50's.

After these opening scenes the Horizons vehicle moved to the Omnimax film sequence with images of the DNA chain, or the space shuttle lift off. The next scene was the 21st century Habitat sequence , also called the Nova City living room.

A huge backdrop painting was done for that scene, here is three close shots of this artwork.

The next scene brings the guests at Mesa Verde, a desert farm of the future...

And then to a submarine habitat...

But also inside a space colony and the "crystal lab"...

The Holographic "happy bithday" party line was the next scene, and the special effects were at that time really impressive.

The guests had then the possibility to "choose their tomorrow" with a choice of three destinations: Space , Desert, and Undersea. A screen came in front of the vehicle and a short movie was played. A good idea, but the image definition was not as good as it would be today.

Before we arrive to the videos below, i have more rare pictures for you. First, a model of the building.

Then some artwork for the "Main Shuttle port"

Here is a fantastic painting showing a city of the future.

But one of the biggest backdrop painting was the "Looking back at tomorrow". Here are some very rare photos showing the painter at work - Robert McCall, a famous artist who worked mostly for NASA - and details of the painting.

And now it's time for you to board inside a Horizon vehicle and enjoy this fantastic ride, thanks to this awesome ultimate Horizons tribute edited by MartinsVidsDotNet whom i thanks a lot, and congratulate for the high quality of the video.

Just like everybody who did the ride at Epcot, you will love Horizons instantly, it was Imagineering at its best! And don't forget: If we can dream it, we can do it!

You can know more about Horizons, read the original script and listen the great music theme on the excellent Horizons web site HERE

I remember you that you can find the previous articles about Epcot's original attractions artwork: for Spaceship Earth HERE, for The Living Seas HERE, for Communicore HERE
, for The Land HERE, and for Journey into Imagination HERE. More coming next week about Universe of Energy!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Today, more details about Toy Story Playland, WDS next attraction, including DLP's short descriptions of each ride and the first map of the land. You will also find below the logos of each attraction - note that they may not be the final one - and new high-res pictures of the TSP posters, much better than the one i've posted previously.

Although these TSP posters were released and works on the ground began, surrounded by Toy Story themed fences, we're still waiting for the official announcement! However, Toy Story playland is now appearing on the 2010 map of the park, the kind of map you find in the park's brochure.

You don't see it well? Have a look to this closer view where you can see the giant Buzz Lightyear who will stand at the entrance, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop on the right, RC Racer half pipe coaster on the left and Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin more or less in the center of the land.

On this other map you can see the giant grasses that will surround all the land. Think about giant grasses a bit smaller than the one in the DHS Honey I schrunk the kids playground and you've got the idea. The road going through the blue barrels on the right will go to the future Ratatouille attraction.

And now, the official description: "Toy Story Playland has the biggest new family attractions. They’re GIANT – when you’re shrunk to the size of a toy! Join the toys for playtime in Andy’s backyard where everyone can explore this oversized world with its three larger-than-life rides – Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin and RC Racer. Andy’s away and the toys are ready to play!"

Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop

Attention! Your mission – join Andy’s troops for a high flying adventure – Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. When Sarge yells “Go! Go! Go!” , hold on tight as you fall from way up high in a simulated parachute drop. Over and out!!

Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin

Everyone’s tongues and tails are wagging about the all-new “zigzag-a-coaster” Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin. Family pups of all sizes will howl with laughter as they join Slinky in a rollicking spin to catch his own tail. It’s barking mad fun in Toy Story Playland.

RC Racer

Andy’s speediest toy car is sure to get you and your family’s adrenaline pumping. RC Racer is the most thrilling new ride in Toy Story Playland. Race along a 25 metre-high half-pipe coaster, as RC zooms you around at full speed…it’s a real gas.

Toy Story Playland will open in June / July 2010 at the WDS and in 2011 at HKDL! It will be the 2010 new attraction for Disneyland paris Resort, and in the meantime if you don't have yet the great "Disneyland Paris, From sketch to Reality" book you will find below all infos to order one of the last copies. Don't miss it, it's a great book!

NEW! Disney and more Surveys !

I introduce today on the right bar of this D&M website a series of surveys to know what YOU wish as new additions / rides / lands for Disneyland Paris park and the Walt Disney Studios! Depending of the survey, as indicated, you're asked to choose either one, two, or three choices. And results can be seen instantly.

The folks of Disney are following Disney and more and your opinion may have more influence than you think for future attractions, so make sure to do the survey! The survey don't request any name, email address, etc, so it's totally anonymous. Make sure to think wisely for your answers, as you can choose only one time!

These surveys may not appear on a mobile device so you need to answer them from your computer.

Tower of Terror SURVEY!

I add today Sept 22 a new survey below, and the question for this one is simple : do you wish that the WDS Tower of Terror will be transformed in a Guardians of Galaxy ride, similar to the one at DCA? Go ahead, place your answer!

Choose ONE Favorite Land for DLP WDS

Choose the THREE favorite LANDS you wish for DLP WDS

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Hello everyone, thanks to Max, D&M contributor and DLPWelcome webmaster i have for you today a looong article with which you'll hav...

Disneyland Paris Book

The acclaimed Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality 320 pages book is no longer available from the publishing company Neverland Editions which has stop its activities. Anyone looking for an English or French edition copy must send me an email at nme4@wanadoo.fr and i'll tell you where or how to find one. Le livre Disneyland Paris, De l’Esquisse à la Cration n'est plus disponible auprès de la société d'édition Neverland Editions qui a arrêté son activité. Toute personne à la recherche d’un exemplaire du livre en français ou en anglais doit m'envoyer un email à nme4@wanadoo.fr

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